Perhaps Jimbo Fisher's real pursuit in life was supposed to be that of a salesman. He certainly knows how to present a pitch and, obviously, seal the deal. His latest conquest Wednesday night was the nation's No. 1-ranked cornerback in Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas' Lamarcus Joyner . The do-everything standout picked the Seminoles over Florida and Ohio State after an in-home visit by the new FSU coach on Wednesday evening. "I am part of the FSU family now, I just committed," Joyner told Warchant.

TALLAHASSEE - Terrence Brooks came to Florida State looking for respect. The former Seminoles safety is still searching for it after a strong career that ended with a national championship. In that sense, Brooks' story is not uncommon. Many players who hope to have their name called during the 2014 NFL Draft, which begins May 8 at 8 p.m., have flown under the radar at one point or another. It fuels them and will be part of the narrative throughout their respective careers. What makes Brooks unique is that he is not a diamond in the rough at a small school or a player with untapped potential at a big program.

TALLAHASSEE - Now that preseason camp has arrived at Florida State, one South Florida native finally has a chance to prove his highly-touted value. Lamarcus Joyner , USA Today's 2009 National High School Defensive Player of the Year, will strap up with the Seminoles' first team this week, lining up as the team's starting free safety. The speedy, ball-hawking sophomore has the tools to factor heavily at the position. But with a pair of proven veterans potentially in the mix, does Joyner deserve the starting nod?

NEW YORK - His voice cracking, Jameis Winston stood on the stage to accept the Heisman Trophy. Winston, normally poised and polished Florida State quarterback, was so nervous that he had to shake some former Heisman winners' hands several times before he started his speech. Winston looked down at his parents and almost cried. He then thanked his coaches from college and high school, and his teammates. Then, finally, Winston was able to walk over to the Heisman Trophy. After a season filled with highs on the field and a month filled with turmoil off of it, he could finally clutch college football's most prestigious prize.

TALLAHASSEE - Like most college coaches, Jimbo Fisher typically refrains from publicly praising individual players, particularly when they are young. He'd rather continue seeing them progress and honing their skills before he comes out and emphatically calls them the best thing he's ever seen. But in Lamarcus Joyner's case, the Florida State coach finds himself breaking that unwritten rule - often. "He's playing extremely well, extremely well," Fisher said earlier this preseason.

TALLAHASSEE - Entering the season there were many questions surrounding the highly touted Florida State Seminoles. While some still linger, one has been answered for certain: FSU has a real difference-maker at free safety. Lamarcus Joyner went through a position change this offseason switching from cornerback to the deep safety position. He has responded to the challenge and appears to feel at home. Late in the second quarter of FSU's 34-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, he made an electrifying play.

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Lamarcus Joyner and Rashad Greene were having great strenuous workouts when the summer began. But something about the training sessions felt inadequate. Both Florida State players were feeling unsatisfied. They thought they were pushing themselves. They knew they were working hard. Sore muscles and aching post-workout joints were clear signs that something was indeed going correctly. Sweat-soaked clothes were another indication, in their eyes, that every exercise and every lift was making them better for the upcoming season.

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Before the interrogator even finished his question, Florida State cornerback Lamarcus Joyner broke into a wide grin. He knew exactly where the inquiry was going. He's heard the chatter. He's read the preseason magazines. He's familiar with the speculation. All of it claims one thing: that Clemson will be the team to beat in the ACC this season. Not FSU. "We love that," Joyner said Sunday, cutting off a reporter who was asking his thoughts about the prospect of his Seminoles being deemed the preseason's No. 2 team.

TALLAHASSEE — For the past decade, Michael Joyner, a lifelong Florida State fan who was born and raised in enemy territory, has been one of the biggest hype men in Miami . "Growing up around the neighborhood, my big brother was always talking trash with his friends: 'My little brother is going to play at Florida State,'" his younger brother, Lamarcus Joyner, remembered earlier this week. He was recalling his days growing up in the Liberty City district of Miami. "I just thought I was a good neighborhood football player," Lamarcus Joyner added.

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State's coaches may yell a time or two, or scream until their faces turn blue. But, according to Jimbo Fisher, the Seminoles enjoy it. They embrace it. They want more of it. "This is not coach talk; our guys like to practice," Fisher said. "Whether I'm mad about execution or a guy or two gets lazy or something like that, our kids, they do what we ask them to. " Immediately following Wednesday's lackluster workout, the message to the offense was simple: Get better, or get replaced.

NEW YORK - The prophecy has played out just the way Lamarcus Joyner envisioned it. Since the beginning of the season when Florida State players began to feel comfortable discussing recently-named starter Jameis Winston, Joyner has gushed about Winston. Whenever anyone asked the senior defensive back if he was surprised by Winston's play for a redshirt freshman, Joyner just shook his head. He repeated a similar statement every time. "To see the guy as a freshman making those kind of throws and the kind of confidence and the natural ability that Jameis has to lead, I mean, I just had no choice but to prophesize that this guy would be this way," Joyner said.

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida State football program was in transition. It was Dec. 9. Bobby Bowden was finishing his swan song, the final chapter of a 33-year career at FSU. A week earlier, it was announced that Bowden was retiring and Jimbo Fisher - then the offensive coordinator and head-coach in waiting - would officially take over as soon as the season wrapped up. Despite the team's fall from national relevancy, Lamarcus Joyner committed to...

TALLAHASSEE - Thoughtful and polite off the field, something changes in Lamarcus Joyner once he takes the gridiron. The Florida State defensive becomes a ferocious hitter, almost reckless, relying purely on instincts as he flies around the field and creates chaos with his 5-foot-8, 190-pound frame. “He may not be the biggest or the strongest guy, but he has the biggest heart,” Florida State defensive end Christian Jones said. “It shows even off the field, he'll talk to anybody like he's their brother.” The senior has played a key leadership role all season, with teammates expected to look to him during No. 3 FSU's big game against No. 7 Miami late Saturday night.

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State cornerback Lamarcus Joyner believed deep down that he was part of the nation's top secondary. He just never articulated it. That is, until immediately after the Seminoles' 51-14 win against then No. 3 Clemson. "Let my brothers tell you, we're the best secondary in the country," Joyner said to the media. "We know that Clemson has a lot of great players, we know that going along the schedule we're going to play against a lot of great players. But we have players that can play all over the secondary.

TALLAHASSEE - - The message has been repeated over and over during the past two weeks: High school stars chose Florida State to play in special games. The stage cannot be any bigger or the stakes any higher, and FSU players know it. There is, without a doubt, excitement around the Florida State football complex as the No. 5 Seminoles (5-0, 3-0 ACC) prepare for Saturday's contest at No. 3 Clemson (6-0, 4-0 ACC). Kickoff is set for about 8:22 p.m. and the game will air on ABC. That anxiety and anticipation, however, is offset by an unfamiliar calm.

TALLAHASSEE - A sheepish grin spreads across Lamarcus Joyner's face when he's asked to explain Boston College's offensive approach. The 5-foot-8, 190-pound defensive back is arguably Florida State's toughest player. Always up for a physical matchup, Joyner cannot help but smile when thinking about the ACC opponent's brand of football. "Tough football. Those guys run the football," Joyner said. "That makes it that much tougher because you know they believe in what they do. If no one has to trick you and just come straight forward to you, you better be looking for a fist fight.

Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, the No. 1 ranked team in the nation by USA Today will have quite a presence in South Bend, Ind., this weekend when Notre Dame plays host to USC. According to ESPN affiliate IrishSportsDaily.com, cornerback Lamarcus Joyner , running back Giovani Bernard , cornerback Cody Riggs and center Brandon Linder will all make the trip. All four players are ranked in the Top 10 of the Sentinel's Florida Top 100. Linder (6-6, 280)

Teams had reason to be concerned when Doc Holliday took over as head coach at Marshall. West Virginia had even more to be concerned with in letting him go. The man who recruits South Florida as well as anyone lured three players into his lair on Sunday after visits by St. Thomas Aquinas S Brian Robinson (6-0, 180), Belle Glade Glades Central S Travis Bell (6-2, 187) and Pahokee WR Fred Pickett (5-9, 165). Bell and Pickett had been committed to West Virginia, under the influence of Holliday, but since Holliday has moved on to Marshall, the Thundering Herd has become a recruiting nemesis for the Mountaineers.

TALLAHASSEE - - Jacobbi McDaniel felt a tingling sensation shoot through his right leg. Lying on the field, he reached for his thigh. "I was down, I peaked up and I saw my ankle like this," said McDaniel, flipping his hand vertically about 90 degrees to mimic the grotesque state of his foot. "I just put my head down. " McDaniel suffered a broken fibula and dislocated ankle during a game against Duke, ending the Florida State defensive tackle's junior season in 2011. Two years later, following surgery, months of not being able to put full weight on his leg and a redshirt season, the fifth-year senior has found his way back to the football field in a contributing role.

PITTSBURGH - Florida State defensive back Lamarcus Joyner noticed it almost immediately. Joyner recalled watching Jameis Winston leading the scout team offense last year. Winston, a few months removed from high school, routinely made the same throws as EJ Manuel, a senior who went on to become a first-round NFL draft pick. "This guy is going to be special," Joyner said he thought to himself. Now the rest of the college football world knows what Joyner figured out more than a year ago. Winston has the potential to be special.